Traveling-flat carding-engine.



- PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907. W. BATTEN & W. HAYES.

TRAVELING PLAT GARDING ENGINE.- APPLIOATION FILE-D JULY 20, 1906. I

s sums- L .N0.-s57,71s.' PATENTBD JUNE 25, 1907. w. BATTEN & W.IHAYES.

TRAVELING FLAT CARDING ENGINE.

3 SHEETSSHEET- 3.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZO, 1906.

' mnllnilm .mmmlll UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM BATTEN AND WILLIAM HAYES, OF AUBURN, MAINE, ASSIGNORS TO BATTEN-HAYES COMPANY, OF LEVVISTON, MAINE, A OORPORATION OF MAINE.

TRAVELING-FLAT CARDING-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907,

Application filed July 2D, 1906. Serial No. 327,060.-

jo 11,71 whom [it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM BATTEN and WILLIAM HAYES, citizens of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Androscoggin, State of Maine, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in. Traveling-Flat Oarding-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention. relates to traveling flat or revolving flat carding engines and more particularly to means for carrying off the strippings as they are removed from the flats.

Although the invention is capable of general application we have illustrated it in connection with the type of carding engine described in our patent number 726,496, dated April 28, 1903. In the machine of that patent a bridge is arranged at an intermediate point in the travel of the flats for the purpose of raising the latter out of working relation with the main cylinder, the periphery of said cylinder between the point at which the flats are uplifted therefrom and the point at which they are returned to working relation with the main cylinder being inclosed by a cover plate. A stripping or cleaning device adapted to act upon. the flats is located in the space between the cover plate and the uplifted portion of the flats the strippings falling upon said plate and removed from time to time by a suitable scraper.

The purpose of the present invention is to effect the continuous removal of the strippings automatically as they fall from the flats. This is accomplished by placing a traveling belt or apron in the space above the cover plate, provision being made for moving said belt or apron. continuously or intermittently and for cleaning it of the accumulated strippings. A similar apron may belocated at the point where the flats leave the main cylinder in proximity to the dotfer.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a traveling flat carding engine embodying our invention; Fig. 2 a central vertical section thereof, certain parts being broken away; Fig. 3 a

side elevation of the upper part of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 a transverse section on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a

detail view in elevation, partly broken away, of one means for moving the apron intermittently; Fig. 6 a plan view, partly broken away, of one type of apron; Fig. 7 a view in elevation of a variable speed motion which may be employed for moving the flats and the apron, and for actuating the stripping comb. Fig. 8 is a vertical section illustrating the preferred type of convey er apron and certain modifications in the mechanism for moving it; Fig. 9 a vertical section through the mechanism at the left of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 a top plan view, partly broken away, of the modification illustrated in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 a perspective view of one of the clips fastened to the apron of Fig. 8; and Figs. 12 and 13 detail views of other means of moving the conveyer apron.

Similar reference numerals indicate similar'parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the main cylinder of a traveling flat carding engine; 2 the licker-in; 3 the doffer 4 the traveling flats; 5 and 5 sheaves around which the flats change the direction of their movement at the opposite ends of their travel around the periphery of the main cylinder; and 6 are intermediate sheaves for supporting the upper length of the chain of flats as it returns above the main cylinder from the doffer end of the carding engine toward the licker-in end. Sheaves 6 are supported on a shaft having bearings in brackets 7 mounted on the main arch at or adjacent the middle of the length of the flexible bend. These brackets also support sheaves 8 over which the flats travel, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Supplemental bends or bridges 9 are provided at an intermediate point in the travel of the flats, and a cover plate 10 extends over the periphery of the main cylinder between the point at which the flats are raised and the point at which they are returned to working relation with the cylinder. The cleaning of the flats at this intermediate point in their travel is effected by a stripping comb 11 the ends 12 of which are suspended from arms 13 of triangular pieces as shown. The other arms 13 and 13 of' said pieces carry studs on which are pivoted parallel links 14 and 14. Links 14 are mounted on a rock shaft 12 having bearings in brackets 7, and links 14 are mounted at their lower ends on studs carried by said brackets. Near the ends of shaft 12 are mounted bell crank levers 15 one of which is connected by a rod 15 with an eccentric 16 on the shaft of a pulley 17 driven by a belt 18 from a pulley 19 on the shaft of the main cylinder Pulley 19 is driven by a belt from the shaft 20. On the shaft ofpulley 17 is a gear which meshes with a gear 21 (see Fig. 1) on a vertical shaft 22, the latter having keyed thereon a worm 23 which meshes with a worm wheel 24 on the shaft of sheave 5 to impart the desired movement to the flats 4.

In the operation of the machine above described the flats 4 will be cleaned as described in our Patent No. 726,496, but instead of removing the strippings as heretofore, they are made to fall upon a belt or apron as will now be described.

Extending across the main cylinder in the space above the cover plate and between it and the uplifted portion of the flats, is a strippings conveyer in the form of an endless belt or apron 25 which is stretched between and passes around two rollers 26 and 27 The former is supported in a bracket adapted to be adjusted by means of its threaded stem 28 seated in a base forming part of the main frame for the purpose of keeping the apron taut. The roller 27 is supported in a bracket 29 and fixed to the side of said roller, or keyed on its shaft, is a ratchet wheel 30 adapted to be intermittently rotated by a pawl 31 pivoted on an arm 32 which has a loose bearing 011 the shaft of roller 27. The arm 32 is connected by a link 33 with an arm 14 of bell crank lever 15 (see Figs. 1 and 3), it being readily understood that as lever 15 is actuated from the eccentric 16 an intermittent feeding movement in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, will be imparted to apron 25, the rate of feed being controlled as desired. The strippings are removed from the apron by a blade 34 carried between plates 35 and 35 the former of which is fastened to the side of arm 32 and the latter has a loose bearing on the shaft of roller 27 As the arm 32 is oscillated the blade 34 will be moved with it to detach the strippings which may tend to adhere to the apron. The strippings fall into a trough or chute 36 by which they are conveyed to a suitably located can.

One form of belt which may be employed is shown in Fig. 6. In this form the side chains 37 are constructed of links suitably joined together, and connected by wooden bars 38 to which a covering 39 of rubber cloth, canvas or other textile fabric is attached. The upper surface of the apron may be smooth, as shown in Fig. 6, adhesion of the strippings thereto being depended upon to effect the carrying forward of the same as the belt is moved. We prefer, however, to attach to the upper side of the apron projecting fingers which will enter the mass of strip pings and positively push it forward as more fully described hereinafter.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the rate of movement of the apron, and the periods of actuation of the stripping comb, are constant factors depending upon the rate of rotation of shaft 20. To provide for a variation in the rates of movement of these parts we have shown in Fig. 7 a well known type of variable speed motion comprising oppositely disposed cones 40 and 41 having a shiftable belt 42 between them. The shaft of cone 40 has a pulley 43 and a gear 44 fixed thereon. The latter meshes with the gear 21 heretofore described from which the sheave 5 is driven, and the pulley 43 corresponds to pulley 17 in Fig. 1. On the shaft of cone 41 is mounted the eccentric 16 heretofore described, which through rod 15 is connected to the stripping comb and apron actuated mechanisms. It will thus be seen that by shifting the belt 42 the rates of movements of the apron and comb may be varied although the rotation of shaft 20 remains constant.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 we have shown our preferred form of conveyer apron, with means for moving it continuously instead of intermittently. Owin to the nature of the strippings there is a tendency toward an accumulation on the apron which would in time fill the space between it and the uplifted portion of the flats. If this is permitted the apron while continuing its movement would not carry the strippings away but would simply slide under the accumulated pile, the adhesion between the strippings and the apron not being sufficient in all cases to cause a forward movement of the entire mass. To insure the positive removal of the strippings under all circumstances we attach to the upper side of the apron a series of fingers which project into the mass. A convenient form is that shown. in Fig. 1.1 in which the finger 45 is struck up from a plate 46, the latter having also down-turned portions 47 by which it is clenched upon the apron 48. By this means the strippings are pushed forward by the fingers 45 as the apron is moved thus preventing an undesirable accumulation. In this embodiment of the invention the apron 48 passes around rollers 49 and 49 having near one end thereof'a series of pins 50-adapted to engage the under side of the apron to insure a positive movement thereof and to prevent slipping. The apron also passes over two idler rolls 51 and 51 conveniently placed so as to raise the under lap of the apron on account of the restricted space above the cover plate 10. The peripheries of the rollers 51 are grooved at 52 to accommodate thefingers 45 as the apron passes over them.

Located below the rollers 49 is a brush 53 ICC mounted upon a shaft which is rotated in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 9) through suitable gears 54. This brush bears against the surface of the apron 48 and sweeps off the adhering masses of strippings into a chute 55. For the purpose of cleaning the brush 53 we provide a comb 56 suspended on two links 7 2 and 73 in the manner shown, said links being pivoted on fixed studs at their upper ends. Connected to link 72 near its upper end is an arm 74 attached at its outer end to an eccentric or cam 75 mounted on the shaft of the roller 49. By this constructionit will'be readily seen that a swing ing movement'is imparted to comb 56 which will ,carry it into and out of the brush. A reed 7 dis conveniently placed to receive the teeth of comb 56 to remove any adhering masses of strippings.

Instead of moving the conveyer apron intermittently as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 it may be moved continuously through the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8. I11 this case the shaft of drum 49 has keyed thereon a worm wheel 57 which meshes with a worm 58. The shaft of the latter carries a bevel gear 59 meshing with a similar gear 60 on a shaft 61, said shaft being driven through pulley 62 from a suitable source of power.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a single ratchet actuating pawl for moving the conveyer apron intermittently. If desired the construction illustrated in Fig. 12 may be employed. This comprises a ratchet wheel 63. Having loose hearings on the shaft of said ratchet are two arms 64 and 65 having pivoted thereon pawls 66 and 67 respectively, one of. which acts as a push pawl and the other as a pull pawl. The ends of the arms 64 and 65 are connected by rods 68 and 69 to the arm 14 of hell crank lever 14, described in connection with Fig. 3. The connection of these rods 68 and 69with said lever is not illustrated as it will be readily understood that as the lever 14 is moved in one direction a rotary movement will be imparted to ratchet 63 and consequently to roller 27 by one of the pawls, and a movement in the same direction by the other pawl when said lever is moved in. its opposite direction.

In Fig. 13 we have shown the link 33 connected to a lever 77 fulcrumed on a stud fixed to bracket 29. This lever carries two pawls 78 and 79 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 30 which, as heretofore described, is fixed to the side of roller 27 or keyed on its shaft. On the upward movement of link 33 through arm 14 pawl 78 becomes active to rotate ratchet 30 in the direction of the arrow, and on its downward movement pawl 79 becomes active to impart a rotary movement to said ratchet in the same direction, as will be readily understood. In using a double pawl arrangement to effect the movement of the conveyer apron we prefer that of Fig. 13.

As shown in the drawings the periphery of the main cylinder 1 and the working faces of the flats 4 are covered with the usual cloth ing. WVe have also shown in Fig. 1 a stripping comb adapted to clean the flats at the doifer end of the cylinder and an apron conveyer 71 to receive the strippings at that point. The conveyer 71 may be moving intermittently or continuously in the manner heretofore described.

That we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in working relation with said cylinder, a stripping or cleaning device for said flats, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, and means for moving said conveyer.

2. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travelin working relation with said cylinder, a strip ping or cleaning device for said flats, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, and means for moving said conveyer intermittently.

3. In a traveling'flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in working relation with said cylinder, a stripping or cleaning device for said flats, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, said conveyer extending transversely of the direction of travel of the flats. and means for moving said conveyer.

4. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in working relation with said cylinder, a stripping or cleaning device for said flats, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, projections on said conveyer adapted to enter the .mass of strippings, and means for moving said conveyer.

5. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in working relation with the card-clothed periphery of the cylinder around a portion of the circumference of said cylinder, means to expose the ICC card-clothed faces of the flats temporarily in position to be cleaned at an intermediate point in the said travel, a stripping device which acts upon the flats while thus exposed at said point, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, and means for moving said conveyer.

6. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause the said flats to travel in working relation with the card-clothed periphery' of the cylinder around a portion of the circumference of said cylinder, bridges to separate the card-clothed faces of the flats temporarily from the card-clothed surface of the said cylinder, a stripping device for the flats located in the space or open ng thus produced between the flats and the cylinder, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings also located in said space below the stripping device, and means for moving said conveyer.

7. In traveling flat carding engine the combination of a main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in Working relation with said cylinder, a stripping device for said flats, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, a shaft and means for driving the same, and means connected to said shaft for simultaneously actuating said flats, stripping device, and conveyer.

8. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a'main cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in working relation with said cylinder, a stripping device for said flats, a conveyer adapted to receive the strippings, a shaft and means for driving same, and means connected to said shaft for simultaneously actuating said flats, stripping J device, and conveyer, said means comprising a variable speed motion.

9. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a cylinder, a set of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in Working relation with the cylinder during a certain period of their forward movement, means for withdrawing the flats from and returning them into working relation with said cylinder during another period of their forward movement, means for cleaning or stripping the flats, and means for automatically conveying the strippings away from and out of the engine.

10. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a cylinder, a series of flats, means to cause said flats to travel in working relation with. the cylinder, means to interrupt said working relation, means for cleaning or stripping the material from the flats during this interrupted working relation period, means for automatically removing the said material away from and out of the carding engine, and means to return the flats into working relation with the cylinder.

11. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a cylinder, a series of flats traveling in working relation with the cylinder, bridges or deflecting guides to cause the flats to leave the cylinder and to return the reto after being cleaned, means to clean or strip the material from the flats, and means for automatically removing the said material away from and out of the carding engine.

12. In a traveling flat carding engine the combination of a cylinder, a series of traveling flats, means to cause the said flats to travel in working relation with the card clothed periphery of the cylinder, elevated guides to separate the card clothed faces of the flats temporarily from the card clothed surface of the said cylinder, a cleaning device for the flats located in the space or opening thus produced between the flats and the cyl inder, and means for removing out of the carding engine the material cleaned from the flats, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we a'l'fiX our signatures each in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BATTEN. WILLIAM HAYES.

Witnesses to signature of William Batten:

EDWIN C. SMITH, CHAs. F. RANDALL.

Witnesses to signature of William Hayes:

MILTON F. RIoKER, RENEL W. SMITH. 

